Favourite Things in 2019

This year, more than any other in my adult life, it’s been really important for me to have lots of media to consume to escape the harshness of the real world. Thankfully there has been plenty to watch, read and listen to and it was very hard to narrow down each section to a Top 3 for 2019, but I just about managed it in the end. So here is my list of the things I liked most during the year, not necessarily the ‘best’ but what I personally enjoyed the most. You can check out my 2018 list here (it was reshared in the Summer as the original version accidentally got deleted!).  

TV Drama – 

1. Cobra Kai (S2)

I think this is the first time that the same TV show has been my favourite two years in a row, so well done YouTube and the makers of the Karate Kid continuation. I wasn’t sure the magic had lasted during parts of the first couple of episodes of Season 2, but once it got back into its stride I wasn’t disappointed. Can you revisit a film series this much later as a TV show, without it just being a rehash of what went before or so different that it undoes the original material? The answer is a resounding yes, as this show builds on the legacy of the original movies and makes it work for a modern audience by ensuring you care about the next generation as much as the original cast. Other productions could learn a lot from this show and I can’t wait for Season Three, especially given to how this season ended.

2. Chernobyl

I had no interest in this show whatsoever when I first heard about it. I thought it would be extremely depressing to watch and also felt that it was disrespectful to make a real-life tragedy into the kind of TV series I presumed this was. Months after it aired lots of critics were fawning over the show, it had the highest ever IMDB rating and people I trusted were saying very good things about it indeed. So, in the end, I bit the bullet and watched it on NowTV. I needn’t have worried, this was a meticulously constructed, beautiful piece of television. Yes, it was harrowing and devastatingly sad, a really uncomfortable watch throughout, but it also said a lot about the human spirit and the importance of speaking up against all odds too. As someone with an interest in both history and politics, seeing how such a large scale catastrophe could happen and getting an insight into the role of propaganda in the spread of information was as fascinating as it was shocking. Jared Harris, who I knew from The Expanse, was phenomenal, as were Emily Watson and one of my favourite actors Stellan Skarsgard. If this was a “best of” list, this would probably be at the top. The fact that such a somber, thought-provoking show was one of those I enjoyed most is a testament to all those involved in its production.

3. The Expanse (S4)

I really like the first two seasons of this series on Netflix and I watched both the third and fourth season on Amazon in 2019. As it as the fourth season that was actually released this year, that’s the one that takes the third place honours. This is the best sci-fi show in a very long time, blending the crew dynamic of Firefly with the intrigue of Battlestar Galactica. This is the show Game of Thrones wishes it was in many ways and it deserves the same level of attention and viewers. I can totally see where every character and faction is coming from, even if I don’t agree with them. That’s masterful storytelling and the casting is excellent too. A must-see for any genre fan.

Honourable mentions –  

Returning shows came back strongly in 2019 on the whole. The Punisher followed up on its phenomenal first season with a very good second season, although it did lack some of the original magic. It also got a little stuck in a rut by having a returning villain rather than a totally new story. The Orville went from strength to strength in Season Two and built on the comedy and familiarity on show in the first season and added a lot more character-based stories and pathos. Some of the standout episodes were among the best in any show this year. Star Trek Discovery was solid second time out, but it felt like they were trying so hard to course correct and realign what had been less popular in the first season that you could see their workings out, which robbed you of some of your suspension of disbelief. Game of Thrones’ final season went out with a bit of a whimper and some moments I didn’t quite buy as someone who’d watched the show from the start. It was still great telly though, despite the few misgivings I had and it leaves a huge legacy from eight consistent seasons. Happy!  Season Two was just as good as the first one, which considering there was no comic to draw from was impressive. Legion was back for a third and final season which didn’t quite hit the stellar heights of the pitch-perfect first season, but it gave the story a satisfying ending. Animated series Final Space returned for a second season and seemed to have Red Dwarf syndrome where at first they forgot what made the series so compelling. The second half of the season was back to its character lead best and all the better for it. The third and penultimate season of Stranger Things was really good and kept us the high standards of what went before and I’m interested to see how the finish the series.

There were some excellent new shows this year too. The Boys was in the third place slot until the latest series of The Expanse came out. I drifted away from the comic series, but this first season of the TV adaptation was recommended highly to me and it really lived up to the praise. Worzel Gummidge came very close to making my top three, but I couldn’t quite justify it for a two-part show. I’m a big fan of Detectorists and someone who grew up watching the original show and this version was just as good as I hoped it would be. It was funny and heartfelt in equal measure.. Wu Assassins started well and had an old school action-adventure feel that is missing from most modern TV, but I felt that it faded away in the second half of the series when some odd plotting decisions dominated proceedings. Animated series Seis Manos also blended martial arts and the supernatural, but did it in 70s Mexico and did it in style, putting most live-action shows to shame.

Matt Berry starring comedy-drama Year of the Rabbit was hilarious, while also keeping you invested in the overarching story. Living with yourself filled the gap left by Maniac in some ways, it started very strongly and the always excellent Paul Rudd was ably matched by Aisling Bea. Criminal UK, Criminal Spain, Criminal Germany, Criminal France was a very clever show which I knew nothing about it until it was recommended to me. It blew me away, thanks to some superb scripting, direction, and performances in the versions from all four countries. The premise, which is to let us into a police interrogation room, while also getting to know the teams of detectives was deft in its simplicity and this show has been hovering in my top three at various points across the year. Dark Crystal - Age of Resistance was beautiful to look at and had the perfect voice cast, but it was slow going and could have done with a real injection of pace and fewer episodes.

I didn’t manage to get to Watchmen, which I have mixed feelings about in general, so don’t have an opinion on that and we haven’t made it to Jessica Jones and Iron Fist’s final seasons yet either. It’s a shame that The Mandalorian doesn’t show in the UK until next year as from what I hear from friends in the US it may well have taken the top slot this year.

Away from the scripted drama I ended up enjoying some heartfelt friendship focussed shows this year and loved new shows Strongest man in history, Drag SOS, and the second series of Mortimer and Whitehouse go fishing. I also rewatched all of Robin of Sherwood and absolutely loved it, which was no surprise.

Film – 

1. Avengers: Endgame

Bags of Action discussion on Avengers: Endgame ‪

I went into this film thinking I knew exactly what to expect and I was wrong. Within fifteen minutes the rug had been pulled out from under my feet and I was left scratching my head and wondering what would happen next. At first, I found that frustrating, but ultimately that was a masterstroke by the film-makers. If Infinity War felt like a big crossover event, this felt like an ongoing Avengers series more than a conventional movie. It wasn’t perfect, but they balanced humour and pathos well and more than anything did a brilliant job of giving every character their own story and some kind of closure. They had already embraced so much Marvel lore in the previous film, they weren’t afraid to throw in things you wouldn’t have dreamt of including in a movie for mainstream audiences even a few years ago. The most Marvel of all the Marvel movies in many ways and one I will watch lots more in the future. We discussed it on the Bags of Action podcast at length, that episode is above.

2. John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum

I absolutely love this series of films and I was very excited to get to see it on the big screen and I’ve watched it again at home since. While lacking the purity of concept of the first film I think I enjoyed this more than the second outing. The mythos has become less and less plausible as these films have gone on and the back story elements they introduced kind of spoiled a lot of what went before. Having said that, for a film to look this good and have so many ridiculous action sequences with no compromise makes it very special indeed. My mini-review on Facebook on the day I saw it was:

““Hard Boiled/Raid Redemption vibe in a mainstream Hollywood film with exquisite cinematography and meticulous shot composition. Never thought I’d see the day.” ”

And that pretty much sums it up, a film that is beautiful to look at with some amazing fight scenes starring one of my favourite leading men, I couldn’t really ask for much more.

3. Spider-Man: Far From Home.

Spider-Man: Far from Home was just as good as I hoped it would be. They did a deft job of moving things forward, while still bringing the events of Endgame into play and Jake Gyllenhaal’s casting was a masterstroke. Fun and funny, this is just what a Spidey movie should be like. I’m pleased to hear that the character I’ve followed most of my life will still be part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe after all too.

Honourable mentions – 

The Joker, more than anything else, showcased the breathtaking acting talent of Joaquin Phoenix and he deserves lots of awards for his captivating performance. It felt like Taxi Driver or Mean Streets through a modern lens, but tying it so much into the Batman myth felt extremely forced and robbed the movie of some of its impact. Then again a film just called Clown Man with no DC links at all woudn’’t have taken such a crazy amount at the box office. I applaud the work that went into making this movie, but I’m not sure I’ll be going out of my way to see it again, as it is so relentless.

Star Wars; Rise of the Skywalker was good fun. They threw everything but the kitchen sink into the final film in the latest trilogy and it suffered a little because of how hard they were trying to unpick The Last Jedi. I hated the decision they made about one of the characters from that movie, but overall this felt the most like a Star Wars movie of any of the main films of recent years. The character moments and main story were enough to maintain the interest.

Captain Marvel was a competent, if largely forgettable entry into the Marvel canon, it suffered by being set in the past and retconning the character into such a well-established series. Even the Marvel movies I like less are always good fun and I preferred this one more on second viewing. There were some excellent moments though and story decisions that I really liked and I always enjoy Ben Mendelsohn's performances.

I think Jumanji: The Next Level would have made it on this list, if I’d managed to squeeze it in before the year was over. Aside from Rambo: Last Blood all the films I saw this year ended up on the list. It’s a shame that it didn’t make it as I expected a Logan style movie with that one, not the film they made. There were lots of non-blockbusters I really wanted to see and didn’t get round to like Midsommar, Knives Out, Motherless Brooklyn, and Ford v Ferrari. I can’t believe how few films I saw on the big screen this year, I’ll be making sure I see a lot more in 2020 probably starting with Jo Jo Rabbit.

Album – 

1. Ramagehead by O.R.k

I first heard O.R.k on the Prog Report podcast and was surprised to hear Serj Tankian (System of a Down) on guest vocals for lead single Black Blooms. I wasn’t sure if I liked it or not and the same applied to the album initially, but suddenly it clicked and I listened to it a lot in 2019. Considering the pedigree of players involved—bassist Colin Edwin (Porcupine Tree, Tim Bowness), vocalist/film composer Lorenzo Esposito Fornasari (LEF for short), guitarist Carmelo Pipitone (Marta Sui Tubi), and drummer Pat Mastelotto (King Crimson) I shouldn’t really be surprised that their third album resonated so much. It scratched my prog itch, along with my alt-rock and alt-metal interests too. Imagine a prog album with occasional bursts of Chris Cornell like vocals from the Badmotorfinger era of Soundgarden and you’ll have an idea of what this sounds like. This album shifts across the full range of emotions and stays with you long after it’s finished. The band is supporting System of a Down on their European tour next year, so that could mean a chance to hear Serj accompanying them live.

2. Third Degree by Flying Colors

My second favourite album of 2019 came courtesy of another supergroup, but this time one whose previous albums I was aware of. Third Degree, their aptly titled third album, was the first Flying Colors record I listened to on release, rather than retrospectively. The stellar pop-prog line-up consists of singer Casey McPherson (Alpha Rev), multi-instrumentalist Neal Morse (Spock’s Beard) on keyboards, guitar legend Steve Morse (Deep Purple), Dave LaRue (Dixie Dregs) on bass and incredibly prolific Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater) on drums.

On paper I shouldn’t really like this band, their songs are accessible, mainstream, anthemic, heavily pop-influenced and there are some strong religious overtones in the lyrics, which is usually an instant turn off for me. When the songwriting is this strong, the production this precise and the playing this euphoric it’s impossible not to be swept along for the ride and every time I play the album I leave it happier than I arrived. I think this is probably their strongest and most diverse album, from the epic prog sweep of Crawl to the Jellyfish style pop of Love Letter and everything in between. Getting to hear much of this album played live in London was a great way to end the year gigwise too, but more on that later.

3. Pitfalls by Leprous

This one was a real surprise, I heard the single Alleviate on The Prog Report podcast and was immediately smitten so had to check out the sixth album by this Norwegian band. The album itself was a bit of a grower, I liked it but didn’t love it on the first few listens and it was sitting in the highly commended category until I gave it a few more spins and then I realised how much I liked it. Melancholy, but with memorable hooks, this album really hit the spot for me in the end, emotional and packed with resonance as it focuses on the singer’s battle with depression and anxiety. The truth behind the concept makes this a very special album and not just a collection of songs. I plan to check out their five other studio albums in 2020.

Honourable mentions –

Choosing my favourite album this year was very hard and the Top 3 has shifted across the year more than ever before. The three bands I anticipated taking the podium places were some of my all-time favourite bands Big Big Train, Zervas & Pepper and Opeth. They all released excellent albums in 2019, but as I listen to them all so much their new LPs slotted into their back catalogues with ease, leaving some surprise offerings to give me goosebumps for the longest and edge them out as a result. Let’s call it a three-way joint 4th place.

Some of my favourite sonic moments came from the long waited offering from Tool (the song Pneuma is mind-blowing) and the latest long-player from Slipknot. Both those albums, the supremely eclectic Empathy by Devin Townsend and You know what they mean by Bent Knee have been in and out of the top three across the year as they all push the envelope in their own way. Other albums that I really liked this year came from the likes of The Mute Gods, Steve Hackett, Focus, Baroness, Cosmograf, Haken guitarist Richard Henshall, Nad Sylvan, Ava, The Who and No-Man.

Song -  

This category has become harder each year. Last year, with Paul McCartney in the top slot was very much about songs that I’d heard that weren’t on albums I loved. This year the stand out singles all came from albums I was a big fan of and it became more and more difficult to work out what constituted a single in these fragmented streaming led times. I opted for songs that were available to hear before an album dropped and/or are listed on Wikipedia as singles.

1. You are not alone by Flying Colors

My number one song from 2019 came from my number two album, from American supergroup Flying Colors. This song was written based on singer Casey McPherson’s experience helping rescue people during the floods caused by Hurricane Harvey. I didn’t know that until I saw Flying Colors perform it live, so had been listening to it with my own interpretation. It’s a heartfelt, beautifully optimistic song which I fell in love with as soon as I heard it. It leans more into Casey’s singer/songwriter territory but still features the magic you get from the band playing together. An instrumental version of the song played as the audience was leaving the Shepherds Bush gig earlier this month, prompting a great big singalong. A younger, more pretentious version of me would have written this song off as almost a power ballad, but it hits the right spot with me right now for many reasons.

2. Alleviate by Leprous

I heard this song on an episode of The Prog Report podcast and was very impressed, it reminds me a bit of Guilt Machine in some ways. Others have described it as a move into pop territory for the Norwegian prog metal outfit and it really is an immaculately produced earworm. The whole album is superb and works best when listened to in one sitting, but there is still something about this song that makes me keep coming back to it.

3. Catch Light by Bent Knee

I could easily have picked any of the three singles from American art-rockers Bent Knee’s excellent fifth album. They were amazing when I saw them live and this song showcases their overall vibe well. Catchy, spiky and beautiful in equal measure, like vintage PJ Harvey or Sonic Youth in many ways. They should be huge, with the Guardian and BBC6Music all over them, hopefully, that will come to pass.

To get their full energy across, here’s the live video too.

Honourable Mentions - all the singles from all the albums I mentioned in the album list are worth a listen in their own right ( check out the Devin Townsend ones in particular, as they encompass all that music can offer). Above and beyond that Island of Doom by Agnes Obel deserves a mention, as that’s a captivating track too.

Gig– 

1. Flying Colors, 02 Shepherds Bush Empire, London.

The lead up to this London gig at the O2 Shepherds gig Empire in Shepherds Bush wasn’t ideal, the general election result was the day before and I was rather hungover after the studio’s Christmas do. Add a four hour Megabus journey to that equation, complete with a twenty minute delay that meant I paid £12 in waiting charges for my pre-booked cab and this gig had disaster written all over it. The reality was as far removed from that as possible. I went to the meet and greet before the show, though my shyness meant I didn’t do as much greeting as I should have and I forget to tell Steve Morse I’d worked on the video for The Surprising for his other band, Deep Purple. Support band Dilemma were very good, especially considering their stand in singer Wudstick had only rehearsed with them a few times. The main show itself was amazing, quite possibly the best gig I’ve ever experienced. Every single song felt like the encore, as they are all so anthemic and memorable and that made the whole show truly euphoric. I had a huge smile on my face from the first note to the end of the encore and felt like I was walking on air for ages. Getting to see such talented musicians playing at relatively close quarters was something I’ll never forget. The show was filmed for a future DVD/Blu-Ray release and I can’t wait to relive it again.

2. Magenta, Arlington Arts, Newbury

This was in first place right up until December with very good reason and not just as it was the day after my birthday in May. I had a VIP ticket, so got to see the soundcheck, some extra performances and a Q&A but it was the main show that will live long in the memory. Before this show I’d seen Magenta twice at The Globe in Cardiff rocking out and twice at Acapela in Pentyrch being much more laid back, this 20th anniversary Angels and Demons gig was the best of both worlds as they turned the prog dial up to eleven. With extra musicians, including a percussionist, Tiger Moth Tales’ Peter Jones and on Spectral Mornings Big Big Train’s David Longdon to augment the line-up and a deep dive into the album Home and a variety of tracks from the band’s history this was something very special. Added to all that was some full on theatrics with actors joining the band for additional storytelling moments alongside some well crafted AV work. This was like a full on West End show and was all the better for it. My VIP experience continued after the show, as I hung out with the band before getting a lift back to Cardiff with drummer Jiffy Griffiths. Magenta shows usually get filmed and if this was I’ll be lining up to buy a copy.

3. Marillion, St David’s Hall, Cardiff

Marillion are one of those bands I never expected to become a fan of, they were the epitome of uncool when I was growing up and with Fish as their singer I had consigned them to the dreaded ‘soft rock’ category. Thanks to the amazing 2016 album F E A R and a retrospective listen to all their eighteen studio albums became a fan, particularly of the Steve Hogarth era of the band. Once I’d watched the Blu-Ray of their Royal Albert Hall show for the FEAR tour I’d been very keen to see them live.

This time out they had friends from the orchestra with them to add to their sound, which suited me down to the ground. Support act singer songwriter Harry Pane was ok, a bit too much in the Ed Sheeran camp for my tastes and an odd fit, but he obviously has talent. The eleven song set, which contained three fifteen minute plus epics was something else. A band at the height of their powers, playing exactly what they wanted to a rabid fan base. In Steve Hogarth they are blessed with one of the best frontmen around, oozing charisma to match his distinctive vocal style. I wa very pleased to hear their rant song New Kings played live too.

Honourable mentions –I was meant to be cutting down on my gig going in 2019, but I’ve said that before. All the gigs I went to were good enough to be on this list.

Focus at the Earl Haig in Cardiff has been in and out of my top three across the year. When I saw the seminal Dutch prog band at the same venue last year the experience was different, as I only knew some of their songs. In 2019 I’ve bought most of their back catalogue on vinyl and have been playing it during a lot of my writing time, so I was even more invested in the show. They put on an amazing performance and I had a brilliant seat right down the front.

Big Big Train brought their Grand Tour tour to Newport as they made their way around the UK. I had some involvement with the tour programme, writing an article called ‘Be More Train’ and commissioning artist Azim Akberali’s work on the back cover. I expected this to be my gig of the year, but the combination of my daughter deciding not to come with me (BBT shows have been a thing for us over the years), my favourite songs from the new album not making the setlist and the lack of Underfall Yard tracks played took the edge of it a bit. It was still a brilliant show, with superb playing and Sweet Billy Pilgrim, who dedicated a song to me after I requested it on Twitter, were a great support too. I think I also had envy for various friends who managed to go to every show on the tour too and having seen them three times before I kind of knew what to expect too.

I made a last minute decision to head to Stourport-on-Severn for one day of the Fusion: music without boundaries weekender mainly to see I am the Manic Whale. The whole line up was impressive on the Saturday, Hats Of Gentlemen, It’s Adequate and Encircled set things up well before I am the Manic Whale, Final Coil’s heavier sound wasn’t for everyone but I really liked it, Dec Burke was great too. The Book of Genesis were just as good as The Musical Box at showcasing the 70s Genesis sound but the real highlight was saved for the headliners. England, lead by keyboard player Robert Webb performed a one-off show, playing live for the first time In 40 years with help from some members of The Gift. who had played the night before. Their set gave me goosebumps, as they showcased songs from their 1977 album Garden Shed. I’ve thought about that set a lot since and listened to that album an awful lot too and it’s my first prog gig where someone wore an actual cape.

Having seen The Zombies last year, I got to see their lead singer Colin Blunstone at the Earl Haig in 2019, he has a great band playing with him and played some excellent songs from his solo work, The Zombies and my personal favourite Old and Wise from the Alan Parsons Project. One particularly drunk woman seemed to think the whole show was for her benefit and he handled that like a true professional.

Haken at The Fleece in Bristol was another very good show, the venue was jam-packed and the atmosphere was electric, with a much younger crowd than most shows I get to. Bent Knee were brilliant as the opening support act, their music works really well in a live setting and their energy is relentless. I wasn’t that keen on the next act Vola really, but once Haken were on stage the place lit up again as they are a ridiculously talented live band.

Adam Ant at St David’s Hall in Cardiff was the biggest surprise of the year. I got a last-minute invite from my friend and fellow writer Jamie Lambert and this gig almost made my Top Three in the end. Support band Glam Skanks were pretty good, but Adam and his band blew the roof off the place playing the whole of debut solo album Friend or Foe, followed by a collection of hits and then an encore filled with B-Sides. Much like at Marillion, I was surrounded on all sides by superfans (and casuals who filmed the whole thing or just played Solitaire on their phone) including one rather intimidating guy who was completely off his face. It was meant to be a seated gig, but when the band put on such a good show it soon became a standing one. This is one show I won’t forget in a hurry and I’ve been playing a lot of Adam Ant music since I went.

I saw Zervas & Pepper twice this year, which makes it six times in under three years. The gig prior to their new album launch at St John’s Church in Cardiff was great and Acapela in Pentyrch suited the band very well too.

Magenta at Acapela was as mesmerising as it was in 2017 and 2018 (I now have the 2016 and 2017 shows on DVD) and if it weren’t for the Newbury show would probably have earned a top-three spot too. I think it’s the best vocal performance I’ve heard from lead singer Christina Booth and the cover of Man with the child in his eyes by Kate Bush was something special. I could happily attend this show every year for the rest of my life if they keep putting it on.

Circus 5, I am the Manic Whale and Let’s Swim, Get Swimming at Level III in Swindon was superb and all three bands put on brilliant sets. I didn’t know the third on the bill band who veered towards the math-rock end of instrumental prog, but I left the show with a t-shirt and a copy of their album on vinyl. I am the Manic Whale put on a great show, as expected and it was good to finally get to see Circus5 play especially as they threw in a Tin Spirits song now that Mark Kilminster is in the band.

The Who at the Wembley Stadium in London was an unexpected treat, as I was gifted tickets by my friend Lee Wood a few days before the show. I ended up taking my brother in law and making a day of it. Imelda May was good and I was surprised by how much I enjoyed Kaiser Chiefs too, as their anthemic mod pop stylings suit being played live with room for some audience sing-along. My first time seeing Eddie Vedder live solo, was as captivating as I had expected, and the addition of a string quartet and Glen Hansard made it all the more magical. Sadly the vast majority of the crowd couldn’t handle the change of pace and made it hard to hear above their constant talking. The Who themselves, complete with an orchestra, were spellbinding and if the crowd hadn’t been constantly baying for hits I would have enjoyed the Tommy and Quadrophenia sections even more (especially The Rock). Eddie Vedder joined them for The Punk and the Godfather which worked brilliantly and hearing Baba O’Reilly and Love Reign o’er me live was something special. I just wish Won’t get fooled again hadn’t been a stripped-back acoustic version. A better crowd would easiy have made this a top three show.

Instrumental duo Ava, with support from All Strung Out, was another very good night at Acapela too and their delicate, filmic music translates well to a live setting.

I go into 2020 with tickets to see Magenta in Newbury and Pentyrch again and I’m provisionally booked for the Summer’s End prog festival in Chepstow. Other than that I may have to curb my gig-going a bit to free up some money and time, then again I’ve been saying that for ages.

Comic – 

1. Assassin Nation (Skybound/Image Comics) 

Following on from Slots another Skybound book has taken top honours in 2019, this time written by Kyle Starks with art by Erica Henderson. I picked up the issue in a grab bag in Forbidden Planet in London and then had the trade collection for Christmas.

“Hot off her breakout success at Marvel, two-time Eisner award winner ERICA HENDERSON (The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, Jughead) teams up with KYLE STARKS (writer of sales beast Rick and Morty) for a hilarious twist on the hitman trope that will have readers laughing in the aisles over ASSASSIN NATION.The World’s Former Greatest Hitman hires the 20 best assassins in the world to be his bodyguards. These mean-as-hell hired guns and murderers must work together to keep the new crime boss safe while attempting to solve the mystery of who’s trying to off him.With the same laugh-until-you-cry spirit of action-comedies like Hot Fuzz, Tropic Thunder, and Deadpool, ASSASSIN NATION is the bombastic, side-splitting murder-fest you’ve been waiting for.”

This action-comedy series is pretty perfect, it’s funny, it’s OTT, it throws so much at you that it shouldn’t work but it really does. Uses the medium perfectly and I’d recommend anyone who enjoys comics to read it.

2. American Carnage (Vertigo)

This book took second place last year too, despite only two issues having come out at the time. The series, which felt like a real return to the Vertigo books of old just in time for the imprint to come to an end, ran for a nine issues and ended this year. The only thing I didn’t like about Brian Hill and Leandro Fernandez’s story was that it ended so quickly, it meant the final few issues felt a bit rushed and I’ve have loved it to run longer. If you like gritty crime stories, this is well worth a read

3. Daredevil (Marvel)

This is the first big two comic I’ve read monthly in some time and fifteen issues of the book came out in 2019. There’s something very interesting about Chip Zdarsky’s almost back to basics take on the character and the art, especially when main artist Marco Checchetto is on an issue. I’m excited to see where they take Matt Murdoch in 2020 as their run continues. 

Honourable Mentions  - The same three books as last year from Image Comics are the ones I’m still reading monthly. Bitter Root maintained its strong start with three more regular issues in 2019 and a Summer Special one shot and has been optioned by Legendary Pictures. Despite the quarterly schedule when we do get an issue of Lazarus it is always worth the wait. I’m a little hot and cold on Die as it’s not that cohesive as an overall story, but

Podcast – 

1. The Prog Report

For the second year in a row, The Prog Report has come out on top in the podcast stakes. It’s becoming easier and easier to pick this show, as whenever a new episode pops up on my feed I’ll always stop whatever I’m listening to so I can check it out instead. Roie Avin is an excellent host, laid back and knowledgable across a variety of different show formats. going solo, interviewing musicians or in a roundtable picking favourite songs by a particular band. Two of my top three albums this year were by bands I hadn’t heard until they appeared on this show, so it’s become an important place to discover new music as well as find out more about the process behind the music, I’d be rather lost without it.

2. The Chernobyl Podcast

The last time I followed along with a TV by listening to a podcast after each episode, was when Fuzzy Typewriter covered the first series of True Detective. The difference with this podcast was that it was actually featured the show’s creator Craig Mazin, being interviewed by Peter Sagal. It wasn’t just the process of making such a successful TV series that made this companion piece compelling, it was also the fact that the series was based on a harrowing true story. By listening to this show you understood where the show deviated from reality and got to understand even more about the real events. If you’ve seen the show but haven’t listened to this, I’d highly recommend checking it out to round off the experience.

3. Wolverine - The Lost Trail.

The second Marvel Wolverine audio drama series was even better than the first one, mainly due to them making Wolverine himself the focal point rather than those investigating him. Richard Armitage is pitch-perfect in the main role and he’s supported by a very adept cast, excellent audio production and a well-crafted script by Ben Percy.

Honourable mentions – I’m still enjoying many of my long term favourites like iFanboy, The Writers Panel, Geek Syndicate, Grouchy Old Geeks,  World Balloon, Tabletop Genesis along with dipping into specific shows that have guests or subject interest occasionally too.

Here’s to another year of excellent entertainment in 2020!!

Favourite Things in 2017

Where does the time go? Another year comes to an end and with so many interesting things being released in 2017, this was a tougher list than ever to compile. And with the world going to hell in a handcart and one of my musical heroes Chris Cornell dying on my birthday, it was an odd twelve months in pop culture. As in previous years these are purely and simply the things I personally liked the most across the last twelve months, rather than me declaring anything the 'best'.  You can look back on the 2016 list here. 

TV Drama – Legion

I wasn't sure if I was going to like the latest X-Men spin off from Fox, so colour me surprised that this was my favourite show of the year by some margin. Not only that, but I also feel that this show has massively raised the bar for TV superhero shows. As much as I've loved the Marvel Netflix shows (certainly up until Iron Fist), this show took more risks and was more creatively satisfying in its eight episodes than any of those shows have quite managed. Strong performances, shifting perceptions of reality, a mix of retro and modern styling, an amazing soundtrack including Pink Floyd and The Who, a character called Syd Barrett and an overall unnerving creepiness made this a must-watch. As much a sci-fi horror series as it is something from the X Universe, I loved every minute. Now I definitely need to watch showrunner Noah Hawley's other show, Fargo. I can't wait to see what they do in Season Two. 

Honourable mentions –  Star Trek Discovery was another unexpected treat. I'm not a particularly big Star Trek fan and those people I know who are Trekkies didn't seem to like this show too much. It certainly wasn't perfect, but the fact it didn't religiously stick to what you expect from a Star Trek series is what I liked most about the first half of the debut season. Strip it of the Trek mantle and it would have been an epic piece of quality sci-fi regardless, boldly going where a TV show like this hadn't gone before.  Another space set sci-fi that came close to being my favourite this year was The Expanse, I watched both seasons, but it was only the second one that was actually from 2017. I liked the first season, but loved the second, the characterisation got stronger and so did the plot, as things that were set up started to pay off. It's definitely a series I would heartily recommend. 

Taboo was another interesting new show this year, but anything with Tom Hardy in it was always going to be well worth watching. GLOW took us into the world of Women's Wrestling and managed to be both engaging and unpredictable in equal measure. Among the returning shows Better Call Saul, Game of Thrones and especially Stranger Things did a great job of building on what went before and made me excited to see what the next series has to offer. 

After the disappointment of the lacklustre, dated and mis-cast Iron Fist,  The Defenders was a mixed bag largely due to the Danny Rand elements but it was good to see the characters united at last.  I was playing catch up with the Marvel Netflix shows all year, so perhaps if I'd found time for The Punisher that might have made the list.  I'm also kicking myself that I didn't get to the likes of Godless, Mindhunter or Jean-Claude Van Johnson before the year was out. 

Film – Baby Driver

The trailers for this film hadn't really managed to get me that interested, it all seemed to smack of trying too hard, so I went into the cinema feeling somewhat sceptical. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved it. Meticulously constructed and edited, it reminded me of lots of my favourite 90s films. The inclusion of Kevin Spacey in the cast made that even more the case, but that's not something to dwell on any more. A bit like Legion, the use of music in this film was one of the reasons it resonated with me so much and both those soundtracks have been on heavy rotation this year. Hocus Pocus, Radar Love and Brighton Rock all in one film, that's heaven. 

Honourable mentions – Logan ran Baby Driver very close and if I wasn't such a big music fan it might well have pipped it to the post.  This was what I'd always wanted from an X-Men film and from a Wolverine film in particular, something with emotional weight as well as spectacle. Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart and Dafne Keen are all brilliant and it's a film that felt more like a modern day Western than anything else. It also played to my love of heroes in the latter stages of their career looking for redemption, almost the Unforgiven of superhero films. I look forward to re-watching it and probably checking out the black and white cut too. 

One the superhero front in other years Spiderman Homecoming, Wonder Woman, Guardians of the Galaxy 2 and Thor Ragnarok might have been up in consideration as I really liked them all, but there were lots of other films I enjoyed slightly more and for the first time it was a Fox X-Men movie that was the most interesting and different. 

Dunkirk was as brilliant as expected, Christopher Nolan turning his hands to a war movie with his usual aplomb, the way time is used in the film is exquisite. Paddington 2 was an absolute delight, giving me even more warm and fuzzy feelings than the first movie.  In stark contrast John Wick Chapter 2 made things even darker than in the film that preceded it and sets things up well for a third movie.  Hidden Figures was another triumph, a truly inspiring fact based drama. 

Star Wars The Last Jedi is a film I've seen twice but still can't quite decide what I think about. I think I fall someone in the middle, between those who have been berating it and those who are championing it. It's a Star Wars movie, so it was always going to be enjoyable on some level.  I'm gutted I didn't make it to Get Out, Blade Runner 2049 or War for the Planet of the Apes, all of which I would have expected to enjoy. 

Album – To the Bone by Steven Wilson- On her Journey to the Sun by Rikard Sjoblom's Gungfly (tied) . 

For the second year in a row I was unable to separate two albums, as this category has increasingly become the hardest one to make a final decision on.  Steven Wilson didn't quite go as pop sounding as some people might have you believe, but he certainly did move into a slightly different direction than on my album of 2015, Hand Cannot Erase.  To the Bone is a remarkably consistent set of songs that showcase his talent as a songwriter and helps cement his status as one of the best British musicians around. Seeing him get wider mainstream attention, like the BBC Breakfast interview and reaching Number 3 in the album charts, off the back of some very canny marketing from his new record label, has been very gratifying as a longtime fan. Can't wait to see him live next year, for the first time. 

Another musician who I greatly admire is Rikard Sjoblom, from his work with Big Big Train and Beardfish to last year's solo record, like Wilson he's another musician who seems to live for what he does and likes to be part of multiple projects. Somewhere between his solo work and the Beardfish output, this Rikard Sjoblom's Gungfly album blends pop, art rock and prog and makes something greater than the sum of its parts, catchy and clever in equal measure. The Guardian had it on their best of the year so far list back it the Summer too. Another record that barely left my ears since its release and I really hope I get to hear these songs played live. 

Honourable mentions –

Grimspound by Big Big Train came close to making this a three way tie, having followed up from last year's favourite Folklore and then being followed by surprise companion album The Second Brightest Star perhaps it was a case of too much of a good thing which slightly edged it out.  Zervas and Pepper, a band like Big Big Train that I discovered via comic artist Marc Laming ran things very close with their gorgeous collection of folk rock songs, Wilderland.  Will be seeing them in Cardiff next year and I'm already counting down the days  

It was a year packed with excellent albums by the likes of Mastodon, Magenta, Cosmograf, The Mute Gods, Tiger Moth Tales, And so I watch you from afar, Wobbler and a very grizzly and angry Roger Waters, plus some light and shade from award winning combo Anathema.  Prophets of Rage was exactly what you would expect from the line up, but it felt like an album we needed this year, the same can be said of Living Colour who also returned with a new long player. 

Song -  Pariah by Steven Wilson and Ninet Payet

I love Steven Wilson. I love Ninet Tayeb. I love melancholy duets like Don't Give Up. I love lyrics like this. 

“I’m tired of Facebook
Tired of my failing health
I’m tired of everyone
And that includes myself”

As soon as I heard it I had a sneaking suspicion no other song would top it this year.  

Honourable mentions –

Hotel Bible by Zervas and Pepper is a song I like just as much as Pariah, but  my personal sensibilities tend to mean that sadder songs appeal to me slightly more. Hotel Bible is blissful, like closing your eyes on a warm summer's day, a timeless classic that it's impossible not to let get under your skin. Sadly their Burning Lantern festival appearance was cut short, so I didn't get to hear it performed live, but I'm promised it will be on the set list when I see them in February. 

It's getting harder and harder to remember which songs are singles these days so this ends up being the hardest category to pull together.  As the Crow Flies, Meadowlands and Experimental Gentlemen from Big Big Train were all very strong, as were the singles from all the other albums I picked out, although as often is the case I preferred other album tracks more. Steve Hackett's Behind the Smoke and 50 Miles from the North Pole and Deep Purples' The Surprising (although I'm a bit biased) and Birds of Prey were other highlights along with The way you used to do by Queens of the Stone Age. I'm still shocked by quite how much I liked Sign of the Times by Harry Styles, which will do wonders for my street cred. 

Gig– Big Big Train, Cadogan Hall, London

I was pretty certain on the day I bought tickets for this show that it would be the pinnacle of my live music going year.  Just like their Kings Place show in 2015, the Sunday matinee I attended in London was a life affirming and truly joyful event. A perfect set list, combining newer songs from Grimspound and Folklore mixed with classics from the back catalogue like Swan Hunter, East Coast Racer and Last Train. Having taken my daughter with me again and met up with various friends I've made via the band and some of the band themselves no other gig stood a chance.  Sadly we didn't quite make it to see the Tiger Moth Tales unofficial support at another venue on the Saturday afternoon, but I have been able to listen to that on bandcamp. Video from this year's shows isn't available yet, but as East Coast Racer was in the set then and now it's worth checking out. 

Honourable mentions –

Magenta get to have two honourable mentions to their name, as I saw them twice in 2017, under quite different circumstances. Early in the year they were at The Globe in Cardiff, supported by Kinky Wizzards (meaning their shared drummer did a double shift) for a loud show which included first live listens to songs from this year's excellent We are Legend album.  If the crowd didn't include so many chatty people, it would have been a pretty perfect show. 

At the tail end of the year I saw them again at Acapela,near Cardiff, for an intimate, acoustic show which included Les Penning and some other special guests and music from Rob Reed's other projects alongside Magenta's own material. It was a wonderful night and I'm pleased to be seeing Magenta in both venues again in 2018. 

Steve Hackett at St David's Hall, Cardiff was very good too. I've seen some amazing guitarists do their stuff this year, and Hackett is no exception. The first half of the show was solo material and the second featured Genesis songs largely from Wind & Wuthering, so it was the best of the both world's really. Seeing Nick Beggs on bass was a real highlight and the audience cheering when Steve mentioned Brexit was the low point. 

Deep Purple at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff was a show I was lucky enough to attend thanks to working on The Surprising video. We missed Cats in Space, but did manage to see most of Europe's set and they were exceptional live, as were the main act themselves, exceptional musicians still going strong and putting on a phenomenal show. 

The Musical Box at The Tramshed in Cardiff was a real experience and the closest I'll ever get to hearing 70s Genesis in person - I reviewed the show over on Panic in the Skies.  It now means I've heard Firth of Fifth live twice and been lucky enough to see Supper's Ready performed fully too. 

Sadly work commitments meant I had to give my Opeth ticket away, which I'm still smarting from as I think they would have been quite a show. Next year Steven Wilson, Magenta (twice), Pearl Jam and Zervas and Pepper already beckon, despite my assertion that I'll reduce my gig going in 2018. If Rikard Sjoblom takes to the road then I'll be adding that to my list. 

Comic – Slots (Image Comics) 

Dan Panosian is my favourite current artist, so when he writes, draws and colours a new hard boiled series set in Vegas and including boxing and shady hardmen I can't imagine any other book coming close, even after just three issues.

Honourable Mentions  - 

Lazarus has been my pick in every previous year. In 2017 we had one issue of the main series and then X+66 books which were told side stories rather than driving the main story forward. Still very good, but I hope we get back to the main story in 2018. 

Alien Bounty Hunter from Vault Comics  was the other book I read in single issues as the cover for Issue 2 got me interested, it was great fun and the kind of blockbuster action book that I always enjoy.

Podcast – Here's the thing with Alec Baldwin

Like most interview shows, your enjoyment will often depend on who the guest is. With Here's the Thing Alec Baldwin proves himself to be an excellent interviewer, so even if the subject matter isn't to your taste the questioning and approach make it well worth a listen. I've really enjoyed all the episodes I've listened to this year. 

Honourable mentions –

Last year's winner Unjustly Maligned was as excellent as ever, but that show sadly went on hiatus partway through the year, leaving a sizeable void. 

In the writing realm On Story and Nerdist's The Writers Panel continue to have some excellent interviews that provide a real insight into the creative process. In the music world I've been enjoying The Prog Report, The K-Scope podcast and Tabletop Genesis in particular, as their album by album discussion format works really well.  Long term favourites iFanBoy,  Geek Syndicate, Grouchy Old Geeks,  World Balloon and Comics Experience continue to get well worth a listen too.  

Aside from these things I was busy watching Happy Valley and Toast of London , being disappointed by the new Foo Fighters and Queens of the Stone Age albums and pulling my hair out about the current political climate. Here's to more distracting entertainment coming our way in 2018.

It's My Shout Script Shortlist 2017

I was very pleased to find out this week that my short film script "The Package" has been shortlisted by It's my Shout for further deliberation. This is the second year that I've put a script forward for the scheme, having submitted boxing drama "Break" in 2016. 

“Wow! So after receiving over 200 scripts from writers across Wales and abroad we’ve managed to get it down to 47! Thank you to all those who entered a script this year. It was very tough to narrow down. For those who managed to reach this shortlist WELL DONE! This is an amazing achievement!”

Should find out in the next weeks whether I am one of the lucky few who have made it through to the BBC Writers Room two day residential script development workshop. Fingers firmly crossed. 

Favourite Things in 2016

Following the deaths of Lemmy, David Bowie, Prince, Keith Emerson and Greg Lake, Darwyn Cooke, Steve Dillon, Alan Rickman, Gene Wilder, Victoria Wood and many more people, it's been a difficult year for pop culture. So it's good to once again focus on some of the positives from the past twelve months. As in other years these aren't what I'm saying are the best things, merely my favourites from the past twelve months.  You can see the 2015 list here.  

TV Drama – Stranger Things

For the second year running the show I liked the most was a Netflix original. This 8-part series completely came out of the blue for me, I hadn't heard of it until friends started posting about it on social media. I managed to watch it before it went on the typical arc of being over-hyped and then derided for being too nostalgic within a matter of days. Being set in 1983 certainly helped get me interested and everything from the music to the titles lifted the whole show. It was fresh and different and I thoroughly enjoyed it from beginning to end, I loved the young cast and I can't wait to see what  the Duffer Brothers do in Season Two. 

Honourable mentions –  Westworld came very close to taking top spot and in many ways was the most well constructed show I saw this year. Technically it was the show I appreciated the most and it lead us all on a merry dance, but having taken half the season to emotionally engage with the characters that meant it wasn't quite the show for me. The best of this year's returning shows included Better Call Saul, which maintained its high bar, Game of Thrones which was the best season in years particularly the later episodes, Daredevil, which wasn't quite as good as season one and Jack Irish, which successfully spun the TV movie series into a season long show. Perhaps if I had found time for Luke Cage, that too would have made this list too. 

Film – Creed

Kids films apart, I've spent very little time at the cinema this year so I had relatively slim pickings to choose from. Having said that, I love boxing movies and the Rocky franchise in particular, and was pleased when this finally got a UK release, many months after the US. I wasn't sure about the idea of continuing the story with Apollo Creed's son as the focal point, but it was an excellent decision. Much like the first two Rocky films, this had a big heart and was handled with a deft touch. The fight scenes were breathtaking and Stallone really should have picked up an Oscar for his portayal of the former boxer turned mentor. 

Honourable mentions – Captain America: Civil War was the film I would have day dreamed about as a ten year old, although far from perfect balancing so many Marvel characters in one film was no mean feat. And they brought Spider-Man into the MCU finally and actually made it work too. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story was far better than I anticipated and felt and looked like it belonged with the original trilogy, it also had some of the best casting of the year with some top notch talent in front of the camera. Deadpool was another film which surpassed my expectations, far funnier than anticipated and really well put together. Zooptropolis (or Zootopia if you're in the US), was excellent, and much like Paddington, managed to highlight the social injustices in the world within a family movie without it overshadowing the story. Looking back, maybe in 2017 I need to make a point of seeing more original films on the big screen, as well as franchise films and reboots, I'm kicking myself for not seeing The Nice Guys, Manchester by the Sea, Hell or High Water and 10 Cloverfield Lane amongst others.  

Album – Folklore by Big Big Train/Sorceress by Opeth (tied) . 

It was very, very close this year. And I drafted this post a few times with either album in top spot as I don't usually allow myself such indecision. When it came down to it, both albums had the same affect on me, both made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up and gave me goosebumps on multiple listens.  I'm emotionally invested in Folklore, having been an extra in the title track's video and attended the album launch listening party at Real World Studios, so that album had a very high chance of being the one I liked most. Just like their previous work, and the other two non studio albums they put out in 2016, it connected with my emotional and thoughful side. With Opeth it was something different, building on what they'd done before on Pale Communication, this album hit all the different things I look for in music and the perfect balance of light and shade, within one small collection of songs. 

Honourable mentions –

F*** Everyone And Run by Marillion was very, very close to making it a three way tie. In many ways it's the most 2016 album of all, as the lyrics resonate very strongly. They planned to make an important album and succeeded, possibly creating the defining work of their career. Iy just didnt quite have the same impact on me as BBT and Opeth.

Other long players of note came from Giraffe Tongue Orchestra, featuring members of Alice in Chains, Mastodon and Dillinger Escape Plan, Iggy Pop, who has found the perfect collaborator in Josh Homme,  The Mute Gods, Nick Beggs' Porcupine Tree with a pop slant style project, Radiohead, who returned to form again,  ex Beardfish and current BBT man, Rikard Sjoblom, BBT drummer Nick D'Virgillio's new power trio The Fringe, and English art rockers Moulettes. 

Song -  The New Kings by Marillion.

The radio edit of The New Kings was the first Marillion song I'd heard since the days of Fish and the band playing Kayleigh and Incommunicado on Top of the Pops. I then listened to the five piece full prog suite in all its glory (which everyone should do) and was completely blown away. Lyrically it speaks to these difficult times (we have the keys to Russia's locked doors) and musically it transcends genre and delivers on all levels. Superb stuff. 

“This title is adopted not in anger or with any intention to shock. It is adopted and sung (in the song “New Kings”) tenderly, in sadness and resignation inspired by an England, and a world, which increasingly functions on an “Every man for himself” philosophy. I won’t bore you with examples, they’re all over the newspapers every day. There’s a sense of foreboding that permeates much of this record. I have a feeling that we’re approaching some kind of sea-change in the world – an irreversible political, financial, humanitarian and environmental storm. I hope that I’m wrong. I hope that my FEAR of what “seems” to be approaching is just that, and not FEAR of what “is” actually about to happen.”

— Steve Hogarth (Marillion)

Honourable mentions –

Familiar by Agnes Obel was my song of choice until I heard The New Kings, it's a song I discovered listening to Bob Harris on Radio 2, while waiting for him to play Big Big Train. It's hauntingly evocative and sounds different on every listen, I was surprised when it started to be used as Match of the Day incidental music. 

Realm of You and Me by Rikard Sjoblom is a singalong classic from the former Beardfish frontman and one of the songs from 2016 that put a big smile on my face whenever I heard it.  As their albums were so impressive, of course Sorceress, Will O the Wisp and The WIlde Flowers by Opeth and Folklore and Telling the Bees by Big Big Train have a place on this list. Daydreaming by Radiohead is beautifully restrained, as is Tears for the West by Levee Walkers feat Jaz Coleman (Mike McCready, Duff McKagan and Barrett Martin supergroup goodness with the Killing Joke frontman) and Metallica's Moth to a Flame helped blow off the cobwebs. The Mute Gods singles Feed the Troll, Father Daughter and Do nothing till you hear from me all deserve high praise too. 

Gig– Rikard Sjoblom, The Victoria (Swindon) 

This was another very difficult one and I almost made it a tie too, but in the end this show just shaded its nearest rival. In a small pub venue in Swindon I was treated to an excellent evening of music, starting with support act George Wilding. 

What followed was a perfect set from the Swedish multi-instrumentalist which made me wish I'd seen Beardfish live before they split up. Singing along to Realm of You and Me was one particular highlight, but the evening just kept getting better. Fellow BBT members Rachel Hall and David Longdon joined him on a couple of numbers and the night was rounded off by most of Big Big Train performing Uncle Jack and Wassail. I get goosebumps just thinking about it and it cost the princely sum of £5! 

Honourable mentions –

Tin Spirits (The Road to Tokyo) at Riffs Bar near Swindon was within a whisker of being my pick. Another band with a Big Big Train connection as legendary former XTC guitarist Dave Gregory is in both bands. I love both their albums and really came to appreciate their musicianship even more by seeing them perform live, especially in the front row in such a small vene. They also treated us to a raft of XTC songs too and you can see and hear some of their version of Senses Working Overtime from the show  here.  And once again this was a gig that set me back a fiver! 

Ben Folds at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff was a gig I wasn't expecting to go to and it was thanks to friend and fellow writer Chris Lynch having a spare ticket that I got to go.  Support act Lera Lynn, as seen and heard in True Detective, was excellent and there was a real party atmosphere when Folds himself came on. 

Chris Cornell at Colston Hall in Bristol with my regular gig buddies, which includes another writer Rob Williams (Suicide Squad, Unfollow) was very good too. Hearing Hunger Strike, Fell on Black Days, Rusty Cage and Black Hole Sun live was worth the admission fee alone. I would like to have heard more songs from Euphoria Morning and a few less covers, more than anything else it made me wish I'd seen Soundgarden live. 

Comic – Lazarus (Image Comics) 

Three years in a row and the only book I'm picking up in single issues now. Having said that even considering how much I enjoy the titles I read in trades, there is a reason why I pick this up monthly, it really is a must read. As the world gets stranger and darker and oligarchical this book carries even more weight and value.   

Podcast – Unjustly Maligned.

Over the years I've enjoyed Antony Johnston's writing, his convention DJing and his public speaking and I can now add his podcasting to that list of things. In this show he interviews someone who has chosen to defend a film, book, comic, TV show etc that they feel doesn't get fairly treated. It's made me want to watch General Hospital, re-watch Clue and had me listening to Tin Machine again, but it didn't quite convince me to re-evaluate cricket. 

Honourable mentions –

The Prog Report, features excellent interviews with musicians from what has become my favourite genre, iFanBoy continues to be consistent and the return of Talksplode has made it even better, The British History Podcast which I started listening to for research is extremely entertaining, my stable mates Geek Syndicate and Grouchy Old Geeks are always good value and the same can always be said about World Balloon and Comics Experience too. 

Thanks goodness for so much pop culture goodness to distract us all from the news.  When I wasn't keeping up with the latest releases I was busy watching Luther and Community, reading The Book of Genesis and 100 Bullets, listening to Bloodmage and Phil Collins: Not Dead Yet and lots of comic book collections from the library.

Favourite things in 2015

This year has absolutely flown by, and I find myself compiling my favourites of the year list all over again. Like last year this isn't a definitive 'best of' list, merely a compilation of what I most enjoyed in the last twelve months. You can see the 2014 list here. 

TV Drama – Marvel's Daredevil.

By no means perfect, Daredevil was a bold new step in the right direction for Marvel's broadcast output, bringing the Marvel Knights world to play alongside the more family friendly cinematic universe. After the 2003 film version it looked like the Hell's Kitchen blind lawyer's story was unlikely to be told again, but they managed to pull it off by making a series that really felt like the book it was based on.  This was a show I never imagined existing and I'm pleased that it does. 

Honourable mentions – I was very close to picking Ray Donovan Season Three as my favourite show, it was certainly my favourite returning series this year. After the slightly hit and miss nature of Season Two it was good to see the show returning to the edge of your seat tension that made the first season so compelling. Liev Schreiber, Eddie Marsan and Dash Mihok continue to deliver exceptional performances each week and I can't wait for the next series. Better Call Saul helped me get over my general distrust of prequels, the show featured some brilliant writing and excellent performances too. It both worked as part of the Breaking Bad world and also as its own thing, mixing comedy and tragedy to great effect. On this side of the pond it was River that held my interest the most, a slightly surreal detective series set in London featuring a powerhouse performance from Stellan Skarsgard, who should be showered with plaudits and awards.  It's also the second of my favourite shows this year to feature the ever versatile Eddie Marsan.  Marvel's second Netflix show Jessica Jones rounds off the list, we're only seven episodes in and I don't think we'll get it all watched before the year is out. Another interesting show and proof the Marvel/Netflix deal was a very good thing. And for the second year running, yes I know I need to watch Fargo.

Film – Star Wars - The Force Awakens

This really isn't the film I was expecting to top this list, but I'm pleasantly surprised that it did. I was grinning from start to finish and there were moments where my skin was actually tingling. We live in an age where trying to recapture the feelings of our youth dominates mainstream media, this is often to the detriment of quality. Having felt like a nine year old for a couple of hours again this is one occasion where touching on old themes and bringing back familiar characters worked exceptionally well. Unlike the prequels this completely felt like a Star Wars film and you were immersed in another world. The new characters were brilliant and the torch has very much been passed. Between this and last year's Guardians of the Galaxy it's fun to go into space again. 

Honourable mentions –

Birdman was nothing like I expected and all the better for it. I've always been a fan of Ed Norton and it was good to see him stretching his acting muscles again and for Michael Keaton to get to explore a character that parallels his own Batman experiences. The film made me think a lot about life, creativity and mortality and it is deserving of all the praise it has received.  Southpaw isn't the boxing film I was expecting to put on this list, but with Creed's UK release date being in January, this was the one big screen piece of ringside action for me this year. Like most of these kind of films it was very predictable, but it hit all the right emotional beats for me, coming close to being a modern day Champ. I could watch Forest Whitaker train Jake Gyllenhaal all day and before I saw The Force Awakens this would have been my pick. Ant-Man was far better than expected and the casting of Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas and Evangeline Lilly worked very well. There were still some Edgar Wright touches in there alongside what was added later. It wasn't close to being my favourite film of the year, but was certainly my preferred Marvel movie of the 2015.  Inside Out was exceptional, thoughtful, moving and inspirational in a way that most live actin films aren't and I'm really looking forward to watching it again.  Indie horror romance Spring was a film that would have flown under my radar if I hadn't watched it as part of a workshop I was working on. The main performances are excellent and it has its own unique vibe, if you haven't seen it I'd recommend you do.  John Wick and Big Hero 6 were both late releases in the UK, having been shown elsewhere in 2014. Big Hero 6 was great fun, but like The Good Dinosaur it suffered by comparison from being in the same year as Inside Out.   John Wick was one of the best action movies I've seen in years, I'm someone who's always championed Keanu Reeves and it's great to see him have a film like this and the planned sequel to sink his teeth into.  I didn't get to see Whiplash to see if that film would have made it onto the list.  Mad Max Fury Road looked amazing and I definitely enjoyed it, but I didn't seem to get the same level of enjoyment as others did so it sneaks onto this list for the visual spectacle. 

Album – Hand. Cannot. Erase. by Steven Wilson. 

When Hand. Cannot. Erase. came out in February I knew straight away it was something special. I've been a fan of Mr Wilson since i first heard Porcupine Tree's Stupid Dream album playing in a record shop in 1999. A concept album inspired by the death of a London woman, which went unnoticed for three years, it's a exceptionally emotional 65 minutes of music. Regardless of whether you like progressive rock, I think everyone should listen to it, to feel its impact. Probably the first album to almost bring me to tears. I wish I'd got to see it performed live. 

Honourable mentions –

It took a very impressive set of songs to mean that Sol Invictus by Faith No More wasn't my favourite album of 2015. I'm a huge Mike Patton devotee and a big fan of all the band's work, rather than just the high profile Jim Martin period that the media tends to latch onto. I'd been eagerly waiting this new set of songs and they didn't disappoint, there was just one album that connected with me more this year, otherwise this would have taken the crown as expected.  Meliora by Ghost was another excellent long player and might just be their best album to date, immediate and evocative and overall great fun to listen to. It was great to have Baroness back at the end of the year with Purple, with their first release since the coach crash that caused two of the band to call it quits. And so we watch you from Afar were a band I discovered at the start of the year as the soundtrack to much of my writing, their Heirs album continued their rich vein of form.  +4626-COMFORTZONE by Beardfish and Wolflight by Steve Hackett, both prog albums I discovered via my love of Big Big Train, got a lot of play from me in 2015 too.  Higher Ground by Chris Cornell was another album I played a lot this year and there was a lot to like about it, particularly the folk vibe on some songs. Sadly I will always compare his solo work to his first solitary outing Euphoria Morning which is one of my favourite records, although in some ways that was him fronting Eleven. 

Song -  Superhero by Faith No More

When I first Superhero  I really wasn't sure about it, it felt a bit like FnM by numbers but after a few listens to the true genius of this anthemic track shone through. It's up there with their best songs and I've been singing along to this aural gut punch all year. 

Honourable mentions –

Wassail by Big Big Train was within a hairs breadth of being my pick (it was was certainly robbed at the Prog Awards this year) and it's another singalong anthem albeit with a very different tone. It's brilliant on record and even better live.  Nearly forgot my broken heart by Chris Cornell was the other single that I really liked this year, it's quite poppy but still maintains the immaculate attention to detail and superb vocals you'd expect from the Soundgarden frontman. Spectral Mornings 2015 was a song I played a lot, not a new track but a new charity version complete with vocals (the original as an instrumental). The track featured s who's who of modern prog and Steve Hackett himself. 

Gig– Big Big Train (London)

This was by far the easiest decision to make when looking back on the year. On Sunday 16th August my daughter and I were truly captivated by a phenomenal performance by a world class group of musicians, when we were lucky enough to see Big Big Train play Kings Place in London. We were in the second row and make a few brief cameo appearances in the Victorian Brickwork video from the show. I'm not sure another gig would ever top it in my lifetime, let alone this year, I still think about that show every day. Life affirming, majestic stuff. 

Honourable mentions –

Shawn Smith at Bristol Folk House in April was another intimate seated affair and it isn't often that you get to share the toilet hand dryer with the act you've just seen. It was great to see him solo a few years after enjoying him with Brad. The live album of this show is available here. The Manic Street Preachers playing all of Holy Bible, followed by a greatest hits set would have been a dream gig for me at one time. It was great to hear arguably their best album played live, but the sunny June daytime Cardiff Castle setting and crowd of anthem lovers alongside the more rabid fans made it a real mixed bag.  If only I'd made it to the Tin Spirits gig in Swindon, as I have a strong feeling that would have made this list. 

Comic – Lazarus (Image Comics) 

For the second year running Lazarus is my favourite book and by the end of the year it was the only thing I was reading in single issues, as I'm reading the likes of Nailbiter, Revival, Zero, Saga, Southern Bastards, Deadly Class. It's a top drawer sci-fi, with gorgeous art, well rounded characters and the ability to surprise. If you aren't reading it you should be. 

Podcast – iFanboy

This was the year that I realised how much this podcast has become part of my weekly routine. Monday morning wouldn't be Monday morning without their Pick of the Week show, even though I am reading most books in trade so have to skip forward chunks. With Ron back on the show (although it was sad to see Paul go) I'm reminded how much time I've spent listening to these guys over the years. The first thing I do after seeing a geeky movie or TV show is to listen to the special edition podcast to find out if we agree, we usually do. If you've seen Star Wars The Force Awakens, they articulate what I thought far better than me, listen to that episode here. 

Honourable mentions –

It's the usual suspects for me, Geek Syndicate, Nerdist Writers Panel, Austin Film Festival's On Story podcast, Comics Experience Make Comics, Comic Book Outsiders, Word Balloon and The Hat Decides (which I hear is due back very soon). Plaudits must got to PJ and Doktor Andy for taking over The Sidekickcast and making it their own thing. I will, of course, direct you to Bags of Action the action movie show I present with my friend and writing partner Steve Aryan. 

So, there you have it. Those choices were a lot harder than last  year, with a wealth of things I really enjoyed across all mediums. That's not including some of the older things that I really liked such as the whole run of Battlestar Galactica, classic albums by Peter Gabriel era Genesis, The Dark Tower comics from Marvel and the exceptional Secret Identity Superman book by Busiek and Immonen - all of which were ineligible of course. Anyway, here's to another year filled with things to enjoy.